Pump jack bearing



Aug. 26, 1941. v. HULL 2,254,148

PUMP JACK BEARING Filed Oct. 18, 1940 Luth er VHull INVENTOR.

A 'TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED STATES r T'E QFIGE' 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in pump jack bearings, and more particularly to the bearing which is adapted to be engaged and operated by the pull rod.

Heretofore, it has been customary to construct the pull rod bearing connection for the pump jack in one integral piece, and when the bearing surface becomes worn, it has been necessary to discard the entire casting which results in a considerable waste due to the relatively expensive construction thereof when only the bearing surface needs to be replaced.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of the bearing by providing for the replacement of the pull rod bearing surface without the necessity for replacing the entire casting when this surface becomes worn. This is accomplished by providing a separate bearing plate preferably provided with spaced points of connection of the pull rod therewith, and with provision not only to prevent relative displacement of the face plate to the bearing casting, but also for providing the desired lubrication with the bearing surfaces thereof. When one bearing surface becomes worn, it is only necessary to reverse the position of the face plate relative to the casting to provide for a new bearing surface, thus doubling the life of the face plate and permitting its replacement without the necessity for providing an entirely new bearing structure, and at materially reduced cost.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pump jack assembly showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the bearing structure detached; and

Fig. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of the parts thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the invention is shown as applied to a conventional form of pump jack assembly comprising a main frame I on which one end of a beam 2 is pivotally mounted for supporting and operating a pump rod 3 at the free end thereof. Mounted in the main frame I is a v-frame 4, pivotally supported at 5 on the main frame and carrying a post 6 which is interposed between the free end of the V-frame and the beam 2, so as to raise and lower said beam upon swinging movement of the V- frame.

The V-frame 4 is adapted to be rocked on its pivot 5 by a pull rod 1 which has a D-link 8 at the free end thereof which normally engages with a bearing attached to the upright arm of the V-frame.

In this invention, the bearing with which the D-link 8 is connected comprises a bearing support 9 preferably constructed as a casting and adapted to be interfitted between the spaced sides of the upright arm of the v-frame' l to which said casting is adapted to be secured by a bolt Iii which passes through an opening II in the lower end of the casting. The bearing support or casting 9 is provided with lateral flanges I2 on opposite edges thereof to engage the forward edges of the sides of the upright arm of the V-frame 4, so as to hold said casting against movement relative to said upright arm and to apply force thereto for moving said V-frame.

The forward side of the bearing support 9 is adapted to receive thereagainst a face plate or bearing plate I3 which abuts againstthe face of the bearing support 9 and is provided with lugs I4 thereon that engage in recesses I5 in the face of said bearing support 9, so as to hold said face plate against sliding movement either transversely or vertically relative to the bearing surface. The forward face of the plate I3 has bearing grooves I6 therein adapted to receive alternately the D-link 8, which D-link engages in one or the other of the grooves I6, according to the length of stroke desired for the pump rods, which grooves I6 are also spaced equi-distant from the vertical center of the face plate I3, so that said plate may be reversed in position relative to the bearing support 9 when one of the grooves I6 becomes worn to present the other groove in the same position for engagement by the D-link.

Provision is made for lubricating the bearing grooves I6 by the provision of a reservoir I! in the casting forming the bearing support 9 with an orifice I8 extending therefrom in position to register selectively with one of a pair of orifices I9 extending through the face plate I3 at points adjacent the respective upper and lower edges of the grooves I6.

In adapting this bearing construction to the V-frame 4, the bearing support 9 is secured thereto by the bolt ID with the flanges I2 bearing against the forward edges of the upright arm thereof. The face plate I3 is then placed in position with its lugs I4 interfitting with the recesses I5, and the- D-link 8 is then slipped over the bearing construction and upright arm of the V- frame 4 and engaged in the selected one of the bearing grooves I6, according to the length of stroke desired. The weight applied by the pump rods 3 and beam 2 on the V-frame 4 is suflicient to hold the upright arm of the V-frame pressed firmly against the D-link 8 sufiiciently to maintain the face plate I3 against dislocation relative to the bearing support 9 without the necessity for a bolted connection therebetween, although such a connection may be provided if found necessary or desirable. The lugs 14 interfitting with the recesses I5 prevent sliding movement of the face plate l3 relative to the bearing support 9 both vertically and horizontally to keep the parts in properly aligned relation. The D-link 8 is shown as engaged in the upper groove I6 in Fig. l, but it is obvious that the length of stroke may be varied by moving it into the other of said grooves.

After the pumping operation has been started on a well, it is not necessary usually to change the length of stroke. Therefore, the bearing groove in which the D-link is received, normally receives substantially all of the wear, and after it becomes worn appreciably, its usefulness is impaired. When this occurs, it has been necessary heretofore to replace the entire casting constituting the bearing, but with this invention, it is only necessary to reverse the position of the face plate l3 to move the other bearing groove l6 into proper position to receive the D-link 8, which thus presents a new bearing groove in the same place, Without any replacement of the structure. several bearing grooves have been worn, but in that event, it is only necessary to replace the face plate while retaining the bearing support 9 that will out-last many of the face plates and their grooves.

The swinging motion of the V-frame 4 under the power of the pull rod 1, is sufficient to slush the oil that substantially fills the reservoir 11, causing this oil to pass through the orifices l3 and i9 to the surface of the uppermost groove IE to allow the oil to lubricate said groove and the bearing provided between the same and the D-link 8, and readily accomplishes the desired lubrication of the hearing which is not disturbed by the change of position of the face plate.

I claim:

1. A pump jack bearing comprising a bearing support having means for securing the same to a pump jack and having a forward bearing face, a bearing plate centrally arranged in abutting relation against said bearing face and reversible in position relative thereto, said bearing plate having a plurality of grooves in the side thereof opposite the bearing face of the support adapted for selectively receivingan operating member, one of said bearing members having a recess therein in the bearing face thereof and the other member having a lug thereon interfltting with said recess to hold the bearing plate against sliding movement relative to the support.

2. A pump jack bearing comprising a bearing support having means for securing the same to a pump jack and having a forward bearing face with one or more recesses therein, a bearing plate centrally arranged in abutting relation against a said bearing face and reversible in position relative thereto and having one or more lugs thereon in position to interfit with the recess or recesses to hold the bearing plate against sliding movement relative to the support, said bearing plate having a plurality of grooves in the side thereof Replacement is necessary only after the all opposite the bearing face of the support adapted for selectively receiving an operating member, said grooves being spaced equidistant from the center of the bearing plate whereby a new groove may be brought into position for engagement by the operating member upon reversal of said bearing plate relative to the support.

3. A pump jack bearing comprising a bearing support having means for securing the same to a pump jack and having a forward face with a plurality of recesses therein and having lateral flanges in position to bear upon a rocking memher, a bearing plate abutting against the face of said support and having lugs thereon in position to interfit with the recesses to hold the bearing plate against sliding movement relative to the support, said bearing plate having a plurality of grooves in the face thereof opposite the support in position for selective engagement by an operating member, said bearing plate being reversible relative to the support for selectively presenting the respective grooves to the operating memher.

4. A pump jack bearing comprising a bearing support having a forward face with a plurality of recesses therein and having lateral flanges in position to bear upon a rocking member, a bearing plate abuttingagainst the face of said support and having lugs thereon in position to interfit with the recesses to hold the bearing plate against sliding movement relative to the support, said bearing plate having a plurality of grooves in the face thereof opposite the support in position for selective engagement by an operating member, said bearing plate being reversible relative to the support for selectively presenting the respective grooves to the operating member, said bearing support having a lubricant reservoir therein with an orifice extending from said reservoir to the face of said support, and the bearing plate having orifices therein extending from said grooves to the opposite side thereof in positions for selective registry with the first-mentioned orifice according to the position of said plate.

5. In a pump jack having a rocking arm, the combination with said arm, of a bearing assembly comprising a bearing support arranged beside the arm, means for securing said bearing support to the arm, said bearing support having a bearing face at one side of the arm, and a bearing plate arranged in abutting relation against the bearing face of said support, said bearing plate being reversible relative to the bearing support and having a plurality of bearings thereon adapted for selective engagement by an operating part according to the position of the plate relative to the support.

6. In a pump jack having a rocking arm with spaced sides, the combination with said arm, of a bearing assembly comprising a bearing support interposed between the sides of said arm, means for securing said bearing support to the arm, said bearing support having a bearing face at one side of the arm, and a bearing plate arranged in abutting relation against the bearing face of said support, said bearing plate being reversible relative to the bearing support and having a plurality of bearings thereon adapted for selective engagement by an operating part according to the position of the plate relative to the support.

LUTHER V. HULL. 

